Cooking grill liners

ABSTRACT

Disposable electric cooking grill liners for protecting an electric cooking grill having a heated grilling surface of each of the pivotally connected moveable and stationary grilling members. Each grilling surface is heated and has raised cooking ribs wherein both sides of food placed between the closed grilling surfaces are simultaneously heated. Each grill liner is formed of a sheet of semi-rigid or heavy heat conductive foil preformed for fitting directly against and substantially conforming to and covering the corresponding grilling surface whereby cooking heat provided to each grilling surface is substantially transferred through the grilling liner without substantial food and juices flowing therefrom coming in contact with the grilling surfaces. Each grill liner also has a rigidized or stiffened margin for maintaining the preformed shape during installation, use and removal of each said grill liner after use. A juice collector and releasable attaching tabs for securement of the upper grill liner are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/349,343, filedJan. 22, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,866.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of grill and barbecue-typecooking and more particularly to disposable preformed aluminum foilcooking grill liners which substantially conform to and mate against theopposing grilling surfaces of well known electric grilling appliances.

2. Description of Related Art

Electric cooking grills having both a stationary and a moveable heatedgrilling surface pivotally connected together have become quite popular.One such device bears the trademark “GEORGE FOREMAN” grills havingelectric heat provided to both stationary and pivotably moveablegrilling surfaces so that cooking heat is applied to both the top andbottom surfaces of food placed therebetween. These GEORGE FOREMAN-typegrills also include an inclined orientation of the stationary or lowergrilling surface with raised ribs extending longitudinally downwardlyfrom the higher to the lower ends so that cooking juices includingundesirable fat material will drain downwardly toward and outwardly froma downturned juice draining margin disposed at the lowest point of thestationary grilling surface.

The popularity of these GEORGE FOREMAN-type grills and others of asimilar configuration and nature have become extremely popular and arefound in a broad variety of sizes and forms. However, a common thread isthe stationary and preferably inclined cooking surface and the pivotallymoveable or openable upper grilling surface which come together toinject heat from both top and bottom sides of the food to be cooked.However, cleaning of these grilling surfaces is somewhat problematic.These grilling surfaces are generally not removable and therefore, tothe extent required, cleaning must be done dealing with the entirecooking grill itself which may include non-water proof delicate portionswhich cannot be submerged or exposed to extensive quantities of water.

Instructions accompanying the use of these GEORGE FOREMAN grillsspecifically advise that cleaning with a wet sponge or disposabletoweling immediately after cooking is completed will greatly expediteand facilitate the cleaning process of the grilling surfaces and willobviate the need for more aggressive soap and water scrubbing otherwise.Human nature being as it is, this recommended cleaning step immediatelyafter cooking is typically ignored based, in all likelihood, on theuncontrollable urge to immediately begin consuming the newly-cooked foodand the inherent risk involved with handling extremely hot surfaces.

These grilling surfaces, when left to cool with food particles andjuices remaining thereon are extremely difficult to clean. A mere spongeor wet paper towel wiping no longer suffices and more aggressivetechniques for cleaning and scouring these grilling surfaces must beused.

The following U.S. patents are generally related to this area of grillcooking and protection thereof but all have structural and functionalfeatures which are substantially differing from that of the presentinvention.

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,491 to Diller, et al.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,097 to Rhee    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,699 to Binks    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,052 to Morrison    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,931 to Miklos    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,601 to Chappell    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,446 to Jones    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,421 to Ahlgren    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,277 to Barker

The present invention provides disposable cooking grill liners which arepreformed to specifically fit and easily mate against and conform toeach of the stationary and moveable grilling surfaces of a GEORGEFOREMAN-type grill. Moreover, by the very nature of this close fittingalignment, the grill liner for the movable upper grilling surface willremain in place when opened. These cooking grill liners are formed ofheavier aluminum foil having stiffened or, preferably doubled overrigidized outturned or upturned margins which aid in maintaining theoverall preformed shape for mating alignment and fitting against each ofthe grilling surfaces and also facilitate the handling and disposalthereof after use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a pair of disposable electric cookinggrill liners for protecting the grilling surfaces of an electric cookinggrill having two pivotally connected heated grilling members. Eachgrilling surface has raised cooking ribs and is heated and wherein bothsides of food placed between the closed grilling surfaces aresimultaneously heated. Each grill liner is formed of a heat-conductivesheet of semi-rigid or heavy aluminum foil preformed for fittingdirectly against and substantially conforming to and covering thecorresponding grilling surface whereby cooking heat provided to eachgrilling surface is substantially transferred through the grillingliner. Food and juices flowing therefrom do not come in contact with thegrilling surfaces thereby. Each grill liner preferably also has astiffened or rigidized outturned and preferably reversed marginpreferably formed of multiple layers of foil folded over on itself formaintaining the preformed shape during installation, use and removal ofeach said grill liner after use. Locking tabs and a juice collector arealso provided.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a disposablecooking grill liner for each of the grilling or cooking surfaces of aGEORGE FOREMAN-type grill.

Still another object of this invention is to substantially eliminate theneed for cleaning grilling surfaces of electric cooking grills havingmatable lower stationary and upper pivotably openable grilling surfaceseach of which are electrically heated for rapid cooking of both sides offood placed there between.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art GEORGE FOREMAN-type grillwith the moveable or upper grilling surface in the open position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation broken view of the cooking grill shown inFIG. 1 with a disposable electric cooking grill liner fitted over andcovering each of the grilling surfaces.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the preferred cooking grill liner of thepresent invention shown in FIG. 2 covering the moveable upper grillingsurface.

FIG. 4 is a section view in the direction of arrows 4—4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an interrupted section view in the direction of arrows 5—5 inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a modified section view in the direction of arrows A—A in FIG.2 showing an alternate and preferred embodiment 12′ of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to FIG. 1, a typical priorart electric cooking grill for use in conjunction with the presentinvention is there shown generally at letter A. This cooking grill A,commonly known under one trademark as a GEORGE FOREMAN grill, includes astationary lower grilling member B and a moveable upper grilling memberC which are pivotally connected together about a horizontal axis shownand pivotable in the direction of the arrow to a closed position atop apiece of food placed atop a stationary lower grilling surface D of thestationary grilling member B.

The grilling surface D having spaced parallel cooking ribs E upwardlyextending therefrom. An upturned perimeter or flange F is provided toretain splattering juice and heat when the moveable cooking member C isclosed atop the food. The stationary grilling member B has a supportstructure so that, when placed atop a horizontal surface S, the grillingsurface D is slightly inclined toward the lowest margin G of thegrilling surface D whereby unwanted cooking juices will flow over anddownwardly therefrom into a collector (not shown). The lower end of eachrib E is enlarged at L to keep cooking food from sliding from atop thedownwardly sloping grilling surface D.

The moveable upper grilling member C also includes a grilling surface Hand longitudinally extending spaced parallel ribs J which opposinglymate with the ribs E of the stationary grilling member B. A downturnedflange or perimeter K is provided to opposingly mate with the upturnedflange F to substantially confine both splattering juices and heatbetween the grilling surfaces H and D.

When this cooking grill A is in use, electrical current activateselectric heating elements (not shown) within each of the stationary andmoveable grilling members B and C to effect cooking of the food fromboth top and bottom of the food surfaces for more uniform, expeditedcooking.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5, the present invention is there showngenerally at numerals 10 and 12. Each of these disposable grill liners10 and 12 are preformed from semi-rigid or heavier aluminum foilpreferably having a thickness in the range of 0.003″ (3 mils) or evengreater. Typically, lightweight aluminum foil having a thickness of0.001″ (1 mil) may also be used but the enhanced flexibility oflightweight foil for other uses makes the heavier, more rigid aluminumfoil preferred.

Each of the grill liners 10 and 12 is preformed having longitudinal ribs16 and 26, respectively, and valleys 14 and 30 having a cross sectionalconfiguration creating mating heated surfaces 22 and 34 whichsubstantially and closely mate against, align with, and cover thesecorresponding cooking ribs E and J of the cooking surfaces D and H aspreviously described.

Each of the grill liners 10 and 12 also includes upturned perimeterwalls 21 and 32, respectively, which are also preformed to closely mateagainst the side walls or flanges F and K, respectively. Note theimportance of the closely mating preformed configuration of thesedisposable grill liners 10 and 12 against the heated cooking surfaces Dand H, respectively, which serves to insure not only the proper fittingand positioning of these grill liners 10 and 12 during use, but alsohelps to insure better heat transfer from the grilling surfaces D and Hwithout excess heat loss or heat transfer loss, and retention of theupper grill liner 12 when the movable upper grill member C is openedafter cooking is complete.

Rigidized or stiffened perimeter flanges best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 at18 and 28 are preferably also provided and formed of doubled layers ofthe perimeter material which grip the flanges F and K at 40 and 29,respectively, of each of the grill liners 10 and 12. These rigidperimeters 18 and 28 further enhance the shape-keeping abilities of therelatively lightweight aluminum foil used to fabricate the preformedgrill liners 10 and 12. However, a heavier or thicker aluminum foilmaterial may have sufficient stiffness to eliminate this doubled-overmargin feature although not preferred. Note that these preferably rigidor stiffened outer margins 18 and 28 must be configured so as not toinhibit the closure of the grilling surfaces D and H; however, thethickness of the food typically maintains these grilling surfaces D andH spaced apart so that the rigidizing perimeters 18 and 28 may extendover the edges of the side walls F and K.

The grill liner 10 utilized to cover the stationary lower grillingsurface D also includes a juice collector 23 in the form of a trough asbest seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 over surface 20 so that the inner matingsurface 22 against the corresponding downturned drainage surface G inFIG. 1 will allow the food juices to flow there into without substantialcontact with this portion G of the grilling surface D. Note thatconventional manufacturing forming processes stretch sheet aluminum foilmaterial at region 36 which matingly covers each of the rib enlargementsL beyond elastic limits to form holes or tears at 36 which do not affectproduct performance.

Obviously, after use and cooled, each of the disposable grill liners 10and 12 may be easily removed aided by grasping of the rigidized orstiffened perimeters or margins 18 and 28 for proper disposal thereafterleaving the grilling surfaces D and H substantially clean for reuse.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 6, an alternate and preferred embodiment ofthe grill liner 12′ for the moveable grilling member C is there shown.Most of the mating features of this grill liner 12′ are substantiallysimilar to those described with respect to the grill liner 12 shown, andare numbered the same as in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 and the detaileddescription thereof is hereby repeated by reference. However, it hasbeen determined that the retention in place of the grill liner 12 may becompromised if the groove 29 as shown in FIG. 5 which matably engagesover the tapered flange K may not apply sufficient resilient frictionalgripping pressure therearound.

To resolve this issue of less than fully reliable retention of the grillliner 12 against the grilling surface H and flanges K of the moveablecooking member C, the embodiment 12′ in FIG. 6 includes an additionalreverse flange portion 54 which is substantially doubled over againstthe back or outer surface V of a distal flange portion Ka of flange K. Aslot or gap 52 created by these overlapping flange portions 24 and 54thus substantially mate against and grip both inner and outer surfacesof the flange K.

This alternate structure takes advantage of a gap W which exists betweenthe concealed surface V of flange portion Ka and the mating lip P of thetop cover U of the moveable cooking member C. Substantial retentionforce is achieved due to the outwardly sloping nature of flange portionKa whereby the slot 52 and flange portions 24 and 54 mechanically lockthis portion of the grill liner 12′ in place as shown.

To further enhance retention of the grill liner 12′ when the moveablegrilling member C is lowered into or raised from the cooking position,flange 46 is also doubled over at 56 so as to create a tapered slot 48which matably engages against a proximal flange portion S of flange F ofthe moveable grilling member C. Additionally, a locking tab 50 extendingfrom the outer portion 56 is provided which slidably engages throughslot T between the inner edge of the grilling member C and the pivotshaft housing R of the stationary grilling member B.

During use, to facilitate insertion of this locking tab 50 through slotT, the entire moveable grilling member C may be grasped and movedupwardly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 so as to enlarge thisslot T temporarily for easier insertion of this locking tab 50.Thereafter, when released, the slot T reduces to its normal width.

By this arrangement, this embodiment of the grill liner 12′ is lockablyengaged to the outer flange K, to the inner flange S and within slot Twhereby, when the moveable grilling member C is lowered in the directionof the arrow in FIG. 1 for cooking food, or opened, the grill liner 12′remains fully in place against the grilling surface H. To insure safehandling, a rolled perimeter margin shown at 58 and 60 and along theentire perimeter margin of the grill liner 12′ is preferred.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, yet another alternate and now preferredembodiment of the grill liner for the moveable grill member C is shownat 12″. Again, most of the structural features of this grill liner 12″are substantially similar to those described with respect to the grillliner 12 and are correspondingly numbered. Representing another andsimpler approach to the retention problem previously described withrespect to the embodiment 12′ of FIG. 6, this embodiment 12″ includesattaching tabs 70 and 72 integrally formed with or attached into a unitto the single sheet of heavy aluminum foil used to form this grill liner12″.

Each of the attaching tabs 70 and 72 include a means for releasableattachment thereof onto the outer surface Y shown in FIG. 1 of the topcover U. Attaching tab 70 includes a strip of double-sided adhesive tape74 which, when pressed in the direction of the arrow will releasablyattach to the area Y of top cover U. Locking tab 72 alternately includesone part 76 of a two-part VELCRO arrangement which, when moved in thedirection of the arrow, will releasably attach to the other part (notshown) of the VELCRO releasable attaching arrangement which isadhesively attached to the area Y of cover U.

By this arrangement, after the grill liner 12″ has been fitted onto theupper grilling surface H, these attaching tabs 70 and 72 are then foldedover and releasably attached to the side area Y of the top cover U tofully secure the grill liner 12′ during opening and closing movement ofthe moveable grilling surface H during cooking operations.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatare conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

1. Disposable electric cooking grill liners for protectively coveringeach of two grilling surfaces of an electric cooking grill having twopivotally connected electrically heated grilling members each havingraised cooking ribs wherein both sides of food placed between the closedgrilling members are heated to a desired cooking temperature, each ofsaid grill liners comprising: a sheet of semi-rigid aluminum foilpreformed for fitting over and substantially conforming against andcovering the corresponding grilling surface whereby cooking heatprovided to each grilling surface is substantially transferred to saidgrilling liner and food and juices flowing from the cooking food aresubstantially prevented from coming in contact with, and thus soiling,the grilling surfaces; a rigidized perimeter margin of said foil forsubstantially maintaining the preformed shape during installation, useand removal of each said grill liner.
 2. Disposable electric cookinggrill liners as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an attachingtab connected to, and extending from each side margin of one said grillliner adapted to fit over an upper moveable one of the grill members;each of said attaching tab releasably attachable to an outer surface ofa housing of the moveable grill member to secure said one grill liner inposition against the moveable grill member.
 3. Disposable electriccooking grill liners as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: anelongated juice collector connected to, and extending from a frontmargin of one said grill liner which is adapted to fit over a lowerstationary one of the gill members whereby cooking juices flow from saidone grill liner into said juice collector.
 4. For an electric cookinggrill having stationary and moveably heated grilling members connectedtogether for pivotal movement therebetween by a pivotal connection eachgrilling member having a cooking surface including raised cooking ribswherein both sides of food placed between the closed grilling surfacesare heated to a desired cooking temperature, a disposable grill linerfor each of the grilling surfaces comprising: a sheet of aluminum foilpreformed for close mating fitting and substantially covering thecorresponding grilling surface whereby cooking heat provided to eachgrilling surface is substantially transferred through the correspondingsaid grilling liner to cook the food while substantially preventing foodand juices flowing from the cooking food from coming in contact with thegrilling surfaces; each said grill liner having a portion of a perimetermargin thereof rigidized or stiffened for maintaining the preformedshape during installation, use and removal of each said grill linerafter use; an attaching tab connected to and extending from each sidemargin of one said grill liner adapted to fit over an upper moveable oneof the grill members; each of said attaching tabs releasably attachableto an outer surface of a housing of the moveable grill member to securesaid one grill liner in position against the moveable grill member;whereby said grill liner for the moveable grilling member issubstantially retained in position against the corresponding grillingsurface as the moveable grilling member is opened and closed. 5.Disposable electric cooking grill liners as set forth in claim 4,further comprising: an elongated juice collector connected to andextending from a front margin of one said grill liner which is adaptedto fit over a lower stationary one of the gill members whereby cookingjuices flow from said one grill liner into said juice collector. 6.Disposable electric cooking grill liners as set forth in claim 1,wherein: said perimeter margin is formed of multiple layers of said foilfolded over on itself.
 7. Disposable electric cooking grill liners foran electric cooking grill having a stationary and a moveable grillingmember pivotally connected together, each grilling member having agrilling surface having raised cooking ribs wherein both sides of foodplaced between the closed grilling surfaces are heated and cooked, thestationary grilling surface also tilted from horizontal and including adownturned juice drainage margin disposed at a lowest point of thestationary grilling surface, each of said grill liners comprising: asheet of semi-rigid aluminum foil preformed for close fitting againstand substantially covering the corresponding grilling surface wherebyelectric cooking heat provided to each grilling surface is substantiallytransferred to said grilling liner and food and juices flowing therefromare prevented from coming in contact with the grilling surfaces; eachsaid grill liner having a rigidized margin covering upturned outermargins of the corresponding grilling surface along a perimeter thereoffor maintaining the preformed shape during installation, use and removalof each said grill liner after use; an elongated juice collectorconnected to and extending from a front margin of one said grill linerwhich is adapted to fit over a lower stationary one of the gill memberswhereby cooking juices flow from said one grill liner into said juicecollector.
 8. Disposable electric cooking grill liners as set forth inclaim 7, further comprising: an attaching tab connected to and extendingfrom each side margin of one said grill liner adapted to fit over anupper moveable one of the grill members; each of said attaching tabssized and oriented for releasably attaching means for releasableattachment of each said locking tab against an outer housing of themoveable grill member to secure said one grill liner in position againstthe moveable grill member.
 9. Disposable electric cooking grill linersas set forth in claim 7, wherein: said perimeter margin is formed ofmultiple layers of said foil folded over on itself.